The Orange Box: Review Part 1

Note: I finally have access to an Xbox 360. Now I can review the games that my roommates buy / the ones that I'll eventually rent.

"The Orange Box" is the latest release by Valve - those zany folks who brought us the "Half-Life" series. The game features five games - The three "Half-Life" games, "Team Fortress 2," and the latest, "Portal." Since there are five games, the review for "The Orange Box" will be in a series (sometimes split up by news, mind you). I'll rate each game with a grade, and as each game is rated, I'll tell you what the game is worth based on my grade. This is basically to illustrate if you're getting a good deal, a bad deal, or a great deal when buying all five games in this handy Xbox 360 format.

(Example:
Game Grade: C
Game Worth (What I Would Spend On This Game): $10
Actual Orange Box Cost: $60
Total (so far): $10)

Now this is my first experience with the folks at Valve since I'm not very well educated in the ways of PC gaming. Thus, I thought I'd start with their newest release, "Portal." Here's a trailer (complete with a rough demonstration).



If you're still not sure, you can play a flash version of the game here, and although it isn't at all associated with Valve, it's still a pretty good representation of the game (without the graphics and whatnot).

"Portal" is one of the most unique games I've ever played. Upon first appearance, it looks like a very intricate first-person shooter. However, this game (while being somewhat of an action game), is largely just an extremely intricate puzzle game. And let me say - it's the best puzzle/strategy game I've ever played.

The goal with every level is, essentially, get from point A to point B. Sounds easy, right? Not with a variety of intricate obstacles in your way. So get to shooting portals into the walls/ground/ceiling and making your way across each puzzle.

The game also features some very humorous dialogue from the computer system (which I nerdily refer to as Cerebro, thank you) instructing you - in a very nonchalant and robotic manner - through the horrifying danger you are in at all times.

One drawback to "Portal" lies in the longevity of the thing. My roommate managed to plow through it in one sitting. Two hours of gameplay and he was finished. However, where this may be the drawback, it still doesn't hold much weight (seeing as you still have four other games to play).

And hey, you have a very interactive environment to work with. In the first minute of playing, you can pick up a coffee mug, drop it, and watch it break on the ground. What more do you want?

"Portal" is simple, yet amazingly addictive and innovative. I can't get enough of this game (considering I haven't gotten a chance to beat it).

"Portal" Grade: A
Game Worth (What I Would Spend On This Game): $25
Actual Orange Box Cost: $60
Total (so far): $25

So "The Orange Box" has four games left and is already over one-third of the way to being worth the price of the game. The odds for this one are looking good.